In the final years of its existence the North Eastern planned to electrify the East Coast Main Line between York and Newcastle with 1,500 volts direct current. Even before the electrification of the entire route began, an express locomotive was built for testing. The design came from Sir Vincent Raven and was based on the modern electric express locomotives from mainland Europe.

The three powered axles had wheels with a diameter of 6 f 8 in, as was also used on express steam locomotives. The power came from a double motor with two times 224 kW per axle, which was connected to the axle via a spring-loaded quill. A bogie sat under two lower hoods at both ends. An electrically operated steam boiler was located in the middle structure to heat passenger cars.

When the North Eastern joined the LNER at the grouping of 1923, the plans to electrify the East Coast Main Line were halted. Up until then the locomotive had only been tested on the short section between Shildon and Newport and was no longer used regularly with passengers. It was then put into storage and was even taken over by British Railways in 1948. Since there was no longer any use for the outdated one-off, it was scrapped two years later.